Safety supporting device for mine and the like lift-cages.



G. H. SCHOFIELD.

SAFETY SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR Mme AND THE LIKE LIFT CAGES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I I 1917 Patemwdl Jan. 115, mm

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M'mfs ses' GEORGE HENRY SCI-IOFIELD, 0F LEIGH, ENGLAND.

SAFETY SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR IVIINE AND THE LIKE LIFT-CAGES.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, this.

Application filed April 11, 1917. Serial No. 161,330.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Greece HENRY Sorro- FIELD, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leigh, in the county of Lanca shire, England, have invented an Improved Safety Supporting Device for Mine and the like Lift-Cages, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to that type of safety device for supporting lifting cages or the cages of mines, hoists and the like, in which the cage is suspended from the lifting hook in such a manner that in the event of the winding rope breaking, or the drawing out of the cappin or the detaching hook failing to act in case of overwinding, the weight of the cage will come upon arms which will grip or wedge onto stationary parts of the shaft, such for instance as the guiding cables or bars, and thus stop the fall.

My invention is best described by aid of the drawings, in which 2-- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my apparatus, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

In these figures, A. is the lifting shackle and capping at the end of the hauling rope and B is a strong eyebolt engaged by this shackle. This eyebolt B which passes through a plate D, has a collar or flange C which holds up the plate D, and the eyebolt has attached to it a shackle E which carries an emergency chain or chains N.

The plate D is also suspended from the upper part of the eyebolt B by chains F. The plate D is made very strong with radial flanges at D on the underside, arranged in pairs, and between each pair of flanges D is pivoted. on the pivot pins G an arm H which at its outer end has a sleeve K adapted to slide along the guiding cable L. The inner end of each arm normally lies fiat against the under side of the plate D, and the plate D and also the arms H when the apparatus is in running order, are supported on the collar 0. At the inner ends these arms H are connected midway between the pivot G and the end, to chains J by lugs I by means of which chains the cage is normally lifted, the extreme inner ends of the arms resting on the under flange or collar C of the liftmg eyebolt B. The arms H have attached to them the brackets M which when the hauling rope breaks as hereinafter described come firmly against the guide cables or rods L.

In the normal operation of the safety device tension on the supporting bolt B is transmitted to the plate D and the cage is lifted owing to the inner ends of the arms H abutting against the lower surface of the plate and the ends being engaged by the collar C, tension being therefore transmitted from the pivots G of these arms to the chains J. The arms H normally lie substantially at right angles to the guiding cables. Directly however the tension of the supporting rope or cable is relieved, as for instance in the case of rope breakage, the weight of the cage is no longer supported by the lifting plate D but acting on the supporting chains J, pulls the arms to which they are connected about their pivots G thus causing an immediate gripping of the sleeves at the outer ends on the guiding cables, the consequence being that the cage is immediately arrested.

The inner ends of the arms are preferably provided with bevel portions. Ihey may for instance have an upper V-shaped tapered surface to engage a corresponding notched surface on the lower side of the supporting plate so that the arms are held rigidly in a predetermined position relatively to the plate, and consequently also to the guiding cables.

The arrangement as shown is adaptable to cages having four guide ropes or cables. In cases where two guiding ropes are provided, two arms H would be arranged as shown in dotted lines (Fig. 2) There three guiding cables are used the arms would be arranged diagonally at angles of about 120, while when six guiding cables are used the four arms shown in Fig. 2 are provided as well as the two shown in dotted lines.

Having now fully described my said invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a safety device for hoists in which, when the lifting tackle breaks or goes out of tension, the weight of the cage suspended from chains causes wedging devices to act on guiding cables of the cage, the combination, with the lifting tackle and an eyebolt engaged thereby, of a central and horizontally disposed plate having a series of radial flanges which are arranged in pairs at the underside of said plate, an arm pivotally mounted between each of the pairs of flanges, a sleeve carried at the outer'end of each of said arms and adapted to receive the corresponding guiding cable, a bracket attached to each of the sleeves and abutting close to the cable, lugs formed near the inner end of said arms and adapted to carry the chains of the cage, and meansfor holding the arms in a horizontal position so long as the lifting mechanism is intact, all substan- 3 tially as set forth and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE HENRY SCHOFIELD.

Witnesses:

MARION E. CLOUD, EWALD S. MOSELEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

